Improvement in hay and manure forks



To all 'whom it may concern: A

.Through this end or part of the handlertwo 'cross-bars, b b', pass. These bars are also convjecta't equal distances each side of it, the outer- .'screw or pin, e.

' to the bals b bf, at suitable distances apart, by

, nary forks.

. tines and bar.

UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

' e. L. BARTON AND A. E. RORERTsoE ALBANY, `NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENTIN HAY AN'opMA-NURE FoaKS.-`

Be it known that we, G. L. BARTON and A. E. ROBERTS, both of the city and county ot' Albany, in the 'State Vof New York, have 'rnvented a new and Improved Manure and Hayx Fork; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being'h'ad to the accompanyin'g drawing, making a part of this specication, the said drawing being a perspective view of our improvement. Y

Our invention consists in the peculiar-construction of the implement., as will be herein after fully shown and described, whereby the principal parts of the fork may be constructed of wood, and a light, durable, and cheap imple4 ment obtained. l

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct our invention, wel will;

vproceed to describe it.

A represents the handle of the implement, which is constructed of ash 'or other suitable wood.- The end of the, handle adjoining the tines isot' curved or bent form, as shown at at.`

structed of a suitable hard wood, and they pass through inortis'es made in the handle and promost bar, b, being securedin the h andle by al B B B B represent the tines of the fork. These tines are also constructed of wood of 'a suitable kind, and have mortises made through them at their inner ends to allow the bars b b to pass through them. The tines are secured screws d. The tines are of curved form, not differing essentially from the form-ot' the ordi- U representsa round metal rod, which is be nt in semicircular form and has a screw-thread formed on each end. The ends of this bow pass throughthe inner parts of the two outermost tines and Vthrough the ends ot' the innermost bar, b', the ends of the rod having jam-nuts e upon them, by which they are secured to said D represents a metal rod, which is bent around the rod C at its center, as shown atf. The rod D is bent in V form, as shown clearlyi in the drawing, and its endshave screw-threads form'ed on them. One end of the rod D passes through the handle A at the benda, and the other end passes through .the handle and innermost har, b', 'the ends of said rods having jam-nuts?) ou them, by which the rod is per manentlysecured. A

The two rods C Dserve as braces and render-the fork perfectly strong and durable.

We do not claiin the broad idea ot' using curved braces or bows in connectionwith the tines and handles of forks, for we are -well aware that they are old; but to the'lest of our knowledge and belief `there has never been a fork madel in which the bow was placed npright, asin our improvement, and supported and held steadyjn that position by a rod, D, extending from the center of the tines to/thel center ofthe arch of the bow and thence to the' handle. `The peculiar arrangement and position of our bow Gis such as to insure the greatnot possess such great advantages, for effect'- ive strength ot' the arch would be thereby de stroyed. Again, the bow C, by standing inan upright position and being firmly held there by the rod D, forms an effective guard, which prevents the hay from falling back lupon the` person' of the operator when engaged in throwingup the material' upona high load. The rod D also servesto hold the bowstead y and prevent its fastenin gs from straning'the wood and becoming loose. In other forks the bows are apt to work loose and destroy the wooden` ortions after short usage. The employment of double cross-bars b b' prevents any one of the tines from bending down out of'level with the others. y

Having thus described our improvement, we

claim' and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

e. L. BARTON. A; E. ROBERTS.

'Witnesses: v

J AMES W. VAN ALsrYNE, 30MB. VAN ALs'rYNE. 

